Cancer Biology Flashcards
(30 cards)
General term referring to the proliferation of cells within an organ or tissue. it can result in the gross enlargement of an organ or in a benign tumor
hyperplasia
an adaptive substitution of one type of adult tissue to another type of adult tissue. Under stress a more vulnerable type of tissue will be replaced by another more capable of withstanding stress
metaplasia
an abnormality in cell size, appearance, with or without a disorganized growth pattern
dysplasia
general term for either benign or malignant tumors. a disease of cells characterized by alternation of normal growth regulatory mechanisms.
neoplasia
benign epithelial neoplasm
adenoma
benign mesenchymal neoplasm
lipoma
malignant epithelial neoplasm
carcinoma
malignant mesenchymal neoplasm
sarcoma
malignant neoplasm of lymphoid cells
lymphoma/leukemia
Mutation repeatedly found in many different types of cancers. Likely involved in development and progression of cancer.
Driver gene mutations
Mutations that appear to be random. Likely occurred as cancer developed
Passenger mutations
Two things p53 can do in the event of damaged DNA
Arrest the cell cycle or stimulate apoptosis
In response to a dsDNA break, ____ is phosphorylated which then activates _____ which can activate p53 and BRCA1
ATM; CHEK2
Two general ways for tumorigenesis to happen
1) a large number of cells becomes increased target for additional mutations
2) not all cells are identical but cancer cells selected for proliferability
Growth-promoting oncogenes: gain or loss of function
gain of function
growth-inhibiting tumor suppressor genes: gain or loss of function in cancer
loss of function
What have the ability to promote cell growth in the absence of normal growth-promoting signals
oncogenes
Six essential alternations for malignant transformation in cancer
1) self-sufficiency in growth signals
2) insensitivity to growth-inhibitory signals
3) evasion of apoptosis
4) limitless replicative potential
5) sustained angiogenesis
6) ability to invade and metastasize
Many cancer cells have the ability to synthesize same growth factor to which they are responsive. What kind of mechanism is this?
autocrine stimulation
Oncogenes may encode faulty growth factor receptors. What’s wrong with them
They are activated without binding to growth factor
RAS, which is often left unchecked, is an example of…
an oncogene
The BCR-abl transcript, which is a fusion gene from chromosomal translocation, is an oncogene. How can its activity be described?
It’s a constitutive kinase
The drug that inhibits BCR-ABL kinase
imatinib mesylate (gleevec)
Protects cells from apoptosis. Overexpression is typical in beta-cell follicular lymphomas
Bcl-2
